Fashion Students Shine at International Competition

News Bureau

January 5, 2015

Harper College is making a name for itself in one of the fashion capitals of the world.

Students Myra Chung of Des Plaines and Meta McKinney of Arlington Heights recently
placed first and second at the annual Hand & Lock Prize in London, arguably the most
prestigious competition in couture embroidery. They were the only two American prizewinners.

The producer of the world's finest hand embroidery since 1767, Hand & Lock has a longstanding
association with the Royal Family. The British company regularly outfits royalty and
military for pomp and circumstance occasions throughout the Commonwealth.

"This was a wonderful and exhausting yearlong process," said McKinney. "I'm so grateful
for all the support we received."

Earlier this year, nearly 1,000 artists sent in photographs showing the early stages
of their garments, which had to be inspired by a certain floral, pattern and geometry
"design brief." Hand & Lock narrowed the entries to 12 total between the student and
open categories. Finalists were then paired with an industry specialist who mentored
the artists as they completed their pieces for judging.

McKinney travelled to London last month to the storied Bishopsgate Institute for the
prize giving ceremony, where a crowd of enthusiasts, journalists, stylists, designers
and fashion professionals examined the garments in person and voted for the winners.

Chung and McKinney were each awarded cash prizes and a special mention went out to
their professor, two-time Hand & Lock winner Beata Kania of Harper. Kania was in attendance
to support her students. Harper also won the Wilcom Institutional Prize and will receive
more than $9,000 worth of advanced software to help further students' couture embroidery
skills.

Each garment proved a yearlong process for the Harper students. McKinney said a single
flower on her dress took anywhere from 18 to 24 hours of work, and each of the six
panels took about 30 hours.

"My intent was to track time, but I stopped after a few hundred hours," said McKinney,
who had a career in corporate research before she began taking fashion courses at
Harper three years ago. "I was shocked and beyond pleased when I got the news that
I made the finals. Everything else has been icing."

Chung works at her family's business, King's Suit Custom Tailoring in Arlington Heights.
She praised Kania and Assistant Professor Cheryl Turnauer, fashion department coordinator,
for all their support and guidance through the process.

"I am very grateful that Ms. Kania led me to this wonderful opportunity," Chung said.
"She is a role model to all students, especially in embroidering. I didn't win the
first place on my own. I did this together with my family, my classmates and with
all of my professors."